*4.7. Microbiological Analysis*

The total viable count (TVC) and psychotropic count (PTC) as well as yeasts and molds were determined by the method described by Yu et al. [44], under aseptic conditions 10 g of each sample was naturalized with 90 mL of sterile normal saline (0.85%). A series of dilutions were then prepared from each sample and an aliquot (1 mL) of the diluent was poured into a petri dish and mixed with platelet agar medium. The inoculated plates were incubated at 30 ◦C for 2 days to measure TVC. The inoculated plates were incubated at 10 ◦C for a week for PTC. The inoculated plates were incubated at 25 ◦C for 5 days to count the yeasts and molds. Using the overlay casting method using violet red bile glucose agar (VRBGA), Enterobacteriaceae were enumerated as the corresponding plates were incubated for 24 h at 37 ◦C [73].

*Escherichia coli* O157:H7 were enumerated using sorbitol-McConkey agar (SMAC). Dilutions were coated on SMAC using the casting plate technique and then the plates were incubated for 24 h at 37 ◦C [74].

According to the procedure described by Tang et al. [75] *Pseudomonas fluorescens* were enumerated on king agar medium, and the inoculated plates were then incubated for 24 h at 30 ◦C.

Using de man rogosa Sharpe agar (MRS) and under anaerobic conditions lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were enumerated at 30 ◦C for 24 h [76].

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All counts were expressed as log10 colony-forming units (CFU) g−<sup>1</sup>
